Highlights And Horizon In Veterinary Nutrition

Small Animal/Exotics

Compendium January 2000

Highlights and Horizons in

Veterinary Nutrition Francis A. Kallfelz, DVM, PhD Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Nutrition James Law Professor of Medicine (Nutrition) Department of Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine Cornell University Ithaca, New York John E. Bauer, DVM, PhD Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Nutrition Professor and Head, Faculty of Nutrition Mark L. Morris Professor of Clinical Nutrition Department of Small Animal Medicine College of Veterinary Medicine nvestigation of the appropriate feeding of animals for optimum health and Texas A&M University productivity no doubt dates back to prehistoric times when humans first doCollege Station, Texas mesticated what today are known as farm animals for sources of food, fiber, or draft power and companion animals to assist in hunting wild animals or herding farm animals. In the earliest times, farm animals (e.g., cattle, swine, sheep, chickens, horses) most likely survived on natural vegetation present in their enclosures. Companion animals (e.g., dogs, cats) likely ate prey caught in the vicinity of their habitats or leftover scraps from human meals. With the development of civilization—especially villages and cities—and commerce, merchants became middlemen buying feedstuff from farmers to sell to other farmers or to city residents. Slow to start but of significance today, nutrition plays an important role in veterinary medicine. First we will highlight some key historical events and then hint at what may be on the horizon in the field of veterinary nutrition.

I

In the Beginning In the United States, the feed industry probably began soon after settlers arrived. However, organizations controlling the industry did not exist until the end of the 19th century when various feed manufacturers joined together to form the American Feed Manufacturers Association (AFMA). The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) originated in 1909 at an early meeting of the AFMA. During that meeting, feed control officials from various states discussed uniformity in feed inspection, feed laws, and enforcement with the goal of improving the quality of feeds marketed for farm animals. One of the first goals of the AAFCO was to draft a uniform feed law that would enhance the quality of feed on U.S. farms. The first pet food was marketed in England in 1860 by James Spratt, an American who developed a biscuit-type food for dogs. Spratt began selling his product in New York City in 1895; and in 1907, Bennett’s Milk-Bone dog and puppy foods, also biscuit-type products, were introduced in the U.S. market.

Francis A. Kallfelz

John E. Bauer

Compendium January 2000

Shortly thereafter, Ken-L-Ration  was marketed as a canned horsemeat diet. Gaines (now Innovative Veterinary Diets) then introduced mealtype diets in 1925, and Purina joined the market in 1927. Cat foods were not far behind. During these early days, however, there was no oversight committee evaluating the contents of and the nutrients in dog and cat foods. Attempts to regulate pet foods began in 1935 with the formation of the first commercial pet food association that sought cooperation with the AAFCO. In 1956, the AAFCO formed a Pet Food Committee that eventually developed a model feed bill for pet foods that was adopted and modified to oversee the labeling of pet foods. This activity subsequently led to initial adoption by the AAFCO of the National Research Council (NRC) nutrient requirements for dogs and cats as the standard for pet foods. However, the NRC requirements have been replaced by feeding protocols and dog and cat food profiles presently recommended by the AAFCO. In the early 1940s, Dr. Mark L. Morris, Sr. began marketing a special food to manage canine kidney disease. Veterinarians were becoming more aware of the role that nutrition played in maintaining optimum health and managing specific disease conditions in animals.

From Then to Now In the ensuing years, the number of feeds marketed for healthy animals increased dramatically. For example, by 1959, there were more than 3000 pet food marketers and 15,000 available brands. In addition, Dr. Morris and his colleagues and several pet food companies marketed an increasing number of diets designed to manage some of the recognized disease states in companion animals. As veterinarians became more aware of the importance of nutrition

Small Animal/Exotics

in the health of farm and companion animals and as new information regarding nutrition was released by the academic community, the need to develop a forum for veterinarians, academic nutritionists, and employees in the feed industry became apparent. In 1956, principally through the efforts of Dr. Morris Erdheim, the American Association of Veterinary Nutritionists, now the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (AAVN), was founded to meet this emerging need. The AAVN was the first officially recognized affiliate organization of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Membership was and continues to be open to all individuals interested in the role of nutrition in improving the productivity and health of animals. The AAVN has contributed significantly to the academic and scientific growth of veterinary nutrition. However, it was not in a position to ensure competence in the practice of this specialty. Therefore, in 1984 AAVN members agreed that the development of an AVMA-recognized board specialty in veterinary nutrition was needed. During the next several years, an organizing committee developed the constitution and bylaws for the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN). At this same time, the committee identified 18 individuals as current specialists in veterinary nutrition and proposed them as charter diplomates. In 1988, the AVMA officially recognized the ACVN as the certifying body for the specialty of veterinary nutrition. At the time, only five professors of veterinary nutrition were on the faculties of colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States. These professors were involved in teaching veterinary nutrition in the professional curriculum and providing graduate research rather than clinical training in nutrition. All of these professional activities would be needed to ad-

Mission of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition ■ Establish requirements for the education and experience necessary for certification in the clinical specialty of veterinary nutrition ■ Certify appropriately trained individuals as specialists in the practice of veterinary nutrition ■ Encourage veterinary nutritionists to pursue continuing education for professional development ■ Promote research and other contributions to increasing the fund of knowledge in veterinary nutrition ■ Enhance the dissemination of new knowledge through postgraduate and continuing education programs

vance the discipline of veterinary clinical nutrition and to add to the mass of individuals with the expertise to engage in them. Throughout its brief history, the ACVN has worked diligently to fulfill its goals (see Mission of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition). The ACVN currently has approximately 50 members, many of whom are professors of veterinary nutrition employed at nearly 20 universities and colleges of veterinary medicine and involved in teaching, postgraduate research, and clinical training. In addition, many ACVN members are employed in the pet food, farm feed, and related industries working to improve the quality of animal feeds and diets to promote the improvement of (optimum) health and productivity in animals. A few members are also engaged in private practice or are consultants.

Today and Tomorrow During the past few decades, the use of diets as adjunctive therapy in the management of clinical diseases of companion animals has grown

Small Animal/Exotics

considerably. The explosive growth of new knowledge in both human and veterinary nutrition is a major driving force in this development. In addition, clients are better informed about the role of nutrition than ever before. Their demand for nutritional advice combined with practitioners’ decisions to provide nutritional counseling and other nutritional services has opened new avenues for the continued development of veterinary nutrition as a clinical specialty. For example, not long ago, veterinary teaching hospital referral centers were involved in a large number of cases of feline hepatic lipidosis in which gastric feeding tube placements and diet management were studied. Today, veterinarians are attending to these cases themselves because of the dissemination of knowledge at symposia and meetings, including those sponsored by the ACVN. Such advances have been the result of the combined efforts of ACVN diplomates and other nutritionists, a responsible pet industry, and the clinical blending of these disciplines. Today the companion pet food industry realizes annual

Compendium January 2000

sales of approximately $12 billion and provides an enormous number and variety of pet foods for healthy animals and a growing number of therapeutic diets designed to manage specific diseases. Each manufacturer emphasizes levels and types of fat and fatty acids, fiber content, protein sources, and mineral concentrations that suggest why given products are superior and how they can enhance animal health and well-being. Similar scenarios are taking place in the market for farm animal feeds. Because the arena of products can become confusing, the need for objective evaluation by veterinarians with appropriate expertise in nutrition, biochemistry, metabolism, and clinical medicine will continue. Appropriate research and dispassionate reviews of published data will be needed so that these specialists can provide sound advice on appropriate feeding strategies. As the era of functional and enriched foods (e.g., nutraceuticals) continues to emerge, this necessity will continue to expand.